By Sue Gregor, Past Hammer Board Member and Current Volunteer

Sarah Casey, who lives at Sumac, is an awesome person. She is an upbeat, thoughtful and hardworking woman who always has a smile on her face. She also happens to be a very talented artist.

I first got to know Sarah several years ago when I began volunteering at Hammer. All of the “Sumac ladies” and I would get together and complete art project after art project. Sarah always took a particular interest in whatever we were creating. Over the years, she and I have visited art exhibits and gone out for fun lunches.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful lady. During a pastels class she took at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts, I saw her creative process in action. I have gained an even better understanding of how much she enjoys looking at art as well as creating art. I just love watching Sarah think about her art and create.

Throughout the last 2 years, I have had the opportunity of working individually with Sarah at my home. She and I spend hours in my studio working with different mediums and mastering new techniques. We began with water colors, and she did an amazing job handling an often difficult medium. Several of her watercolor paintings have been made into Hammer Holiday Art Cards that can be purchased here.

This year, we switched materials and are currently working with acrylic paints. Sarah’s style is amazing and she has such a free flowing use of her brush. Her sense of color is also very unique. She has very clear, thoughtful ideas about what she wants to create and how it should evolve.

Sue at our central office.

Sarah inspires me each time we are together and I feel fortunate that I am lucky to work with such a talented and dedicated artist.

Her work is currently on display at Hammer’s Central office. The next time you are in the building, admire her work.